Good Saturday to you from Iowa where August weather has returned ~ heat and humidity kept us in A/C this week. Today the winds are from the northwest, the temperature has dropped nearly 20 degrees and we are able to open doors and windows once again. The grass needs little mowing, it is not so green, the flowers are starting to lose their bright beauty and the song birds are not singing much anymore. Still, there is much to behold.
Speaking of beholding, this past week has been a very challenging one for our family. My sister who raised me, Gr. Jo to our kids, had a heart attack a week ago yesterday and ended up having triple bypass surgery a week ago today. Her heart would not restart when she came off the bypass. They tried to start it three times before putting her on an ECMO machine which kept her heart and lungs working. She was transferred from one hospital in the Twin Cities to the University of MN where they could manage the ECMO. She is 87 years and one tough lady. She was taken off the ECMO this week and her heart started! She was taken off the balloon pump and her heart was stable. She will have the ventilator removed in a day or two. She is slowly coming out of the long and deep sedation and is starting to respond to commands and questions from her daughter Janelle. Only one person can be there and Janelle is the one. She has been amazing with her continual updates to all of the family and support and love for her mom. Gr. Jo's kids all sat outside the hospital at picnic tables day after day to be as close to their mom as they could. Janelle would go inside to see her mom as much as she was allowed and texts were sent to us and others to keep us updated. Yesterday we had a phone conference with members of her care team and the doctor's first words were "It is miraculous that she lived." Yes it is! He also said "She has had amazing progress since Monday!" "She is surprising all of us." Oh, yes. We were given good realistic and encouraging info and know that this is a one day/one week at a time journey for her. Her faith and her determination are her greatest tools for recovery. Prayers were being lifted from across the country and we are so very grateful to everyone as we behold His faithfulness. Thank you.
Last week when I was waiting for Joel in the car something dawned on me. I was watching everyone walk by and they were all wearing masks. It was "normal" to see that and I thought about how easy we have adapted to the changes. They are just part of life now. In fact today at a garden/produce center a maskless man grabbed our watermelon to carry it to our car as Joel's hands were full and my first thought was. "Step away from that watermelon!" If you don't want to wear a mask, fine, but don't invade my space or touch my stuff.....yeah.....step away from my watermelon!
Speaking of watermelons, they are such a great summer treat! And peaches too, although I have never looked at peaches quite the same as after we were in Washington State in the 80's. We spent time with Joel's Aunt Ruth which was so fun, and we also enjoyed all the fresh........truly fresh fruit available. The peaches were sooooo sweet and good. I have never had one like those since!
Nine days ago a long time friend came by for a short visit. She was back in the Midwest from her home in Mesa. Linda and her husband Jim are our oldest daughter's Godparents and have been a part of my life since I was young. It was a nice surprise to see her again and we enjoyed a good visit from our garage, social distancing. It is always good to catch up with old friends, isn't it. Joel has been doing that by phone lately more than ever. I love how quickly we can connect through texting too. It has kept us all connected this past week with Gr. Jo's medical journey. There is nothing like a real in person hug, but having cell phones makes the isolation so much easier. "When I was younger" as us old people like to say, calling long distance cost $20 so it could not happen often, When we lived in the Philippines we called home once to my family on Christmas Eve in the USA. Most everyone was at church but we visited for just a few minutes with a couple members, having to say "Roger" after every sentence since the call went through the base. It cost us $40 for 5 minutes! Yep, today's technology is great!
This week we are grateful for those white coats that save lives. Grateful for family, old friends, laughter, tears, and the never ending grace of God. We are grateful for watermelon, masks, redwood, cell phones, videos that make us laugh, cardinals that provide song for us, a summer rain, and of course porches. We are grateful for texting. It has kept all of us connected to what has happening with Gr. Jo minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day. Today we are thankful for words like remarkable, miraculous, amazing, surprising.
Enjoy your weekend!
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